MIA

I'm so sorry that have been missing this week. We were out of town for our last meeting with our adoption agency - or well... our last formal seminar. We'll never be done meeting with them or getting their help when we have questions or James has questions.

Anyway, we had our last formal seminar for his adoption process and combined it with Tyler's birthday party. So I've got tons of photos and things I want to blog about. Of course though, when we returned from our trip... our internet service went out. Joy!

I've been working on getting that fixed, and have been running around like a crazy woman for other errands that need to get done. Then, if that doesn't beat it all... I had a HORRIBLE appointment at the dentist today... lets just say that it's going to be painful and expensive. I'm so upset about it, and really just want to go to bed and wake up tomorrow.

On top of that, with my couch to 5K program - I've hurt my knees and shins. The were bothering me a little bit last week, but after doing my workout on our trip... without my treadmill... they are screaming at me. Picture me hobbling around and barely able to walk. Good times... when you've got two little guys to carry up and down the stairs multiple times a day. I worked out today for the first time this week, and modified the program a bit with varying speeds of walking instead of any jogging... we'll see how that goes.

The word for today in my mind is suckage... so it's highly unlikely that I'll get any blogging done until sometime tomorrow. If all of that doesn't beat it, I'm currently watching James sing in his crib after only sleeping 30 minutes at MDO... while Tyler slept 2 hours at school and is currently "out like a light" - amazing!

I have tons I want to tell you guys about and regular posts that I missed writing this week, but I'll be back as soon as I can... if not by tomorrow - I'll for sure be back on Monday with TONS to tell you.

Monkeys at the Zoo

This past weekend, we took the boys to the zoo. It was a good experience for some and others did not enjoy it as much. Tyler had a blast... and was bouncing up and down in the stroller - having the time of his life. James on the other hand was not enjoying any part of riding in the stroller... so we tried to let him walk some, but it's a lot of walking for a little guy... and he does not enjoy holding hands yet. So our choices were to hold him or put him in the stroller.

Needless to say, there was a significant amount of crying and fit throwing. Before we take another trip - we will be getting a couple of baby leashes. I've already been informed of the unpopularity of the leash concept by some folks... but have heard that others have had some major success with them. I think for us - it allows James the freedom to explore with the safety of not being able to get to far from us.

Anyway, here are some photos from the day - we didn't get as many as I had hoped for because of the fussy pants, but we still got some cute ones.

K is for Kitchen

If there was only 1 room in my house that I could use to show my men that I love them... I'd say it would be the kitchen. To me food is love. It's probably why I have weight issues, but nothing makes me feel more complete or loved than someone making me something from scratch... and it's in return how I show those closest to me the same love.

I am constantly on the look out for a new recipe that John would enjoy... and for things that I think the boys will enjoy when they are eating table foods. Tyler hasn't really gotten that far yet, and James has regressed back down to baby foods - so I'm still testing things out on John for the time being.

I've always loved baking and cooking - creating things from a few ingredients into a masterpiece. Its the best part of entertaining for me as well... I love sharing things that I've made with our friends. Food gifts are also something that I find great enjoyment in - and thank God for Pinterest... because the ideas for this year are overflowing!

Cooking has become so much more enjoyable now that I am staying at home with the boys. I am able to enjoy meal planning and cooking during the day instead of trying to fit in into the few minutes that are left at the end of a workday. My recipe search right now centers around crock pot items or things that I can prep during nap time to pop in the oven when the boys are eating their dinner. Our night time routine is pretty rushed from the time they eat until bedtime - so John and I typically don't eat until 8 or so after they are in bed.

Since this is such a huge part of me... I thought that I'd share some of my favorites with you guys:

Breakfast:
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
Crescent Roll Casserole

Dinner: 
Zucchini Hamburger Casserole
Chicken Pesto Pasta Bake
Slow Cooker Italian Mushroom Chicken
Chicken with Tomatoes, Olives and Orzo
Shepherd's Pie
Beans & Rice
Jamie's Chili
Layered Chili-Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Chicken & Wild Rice Soup
Chicken Spaghetti
Crock Pot Pork Tenderlion
Lazy Chicken

Sides:
Spinach Berry Salad
Fresh Green Beans
John's Crab Stuffed Mushrooms (inspired by Red Lobster)
Pappadeaux Greek Salad
Green Bean Bundles
Crunchy Coleslaw (amazing!!)

Dessert:
Creamy Lime Squares
Mixed Berry Cheesecake
Sopapilla Cheesecake
Berry Cheesecake Parfaits
Chocolate Walnut Tarts
Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake
Memaw's Caramel Iced Cookies
Orange Fluffy

Beverages:
Feaux Mimosa
Awesome Party Punch
Thanksgiving Punch

The One Where Everything Goes Wrong

Anyone notice that I ripped off the naming convention of a popular 90's television show? Anyone that can figure it out - you win! I don't know what you win... but I might come up with a prize if someone guesses.

This has shaped up to be the week from hell, and it really was supposed to be great. Ah, that's how these things happen - you have high hopes for things to fall into place... and that's when they start to actually unravel.

It all started last night, we were sitting in the living room enjoying our regular nightly routine. The boys were changed and ready for bed... drinking their last bottles of the night and playing. I was on the floor with James, and John was in his chair with Tyler. When I suddenly heard the unmistakeable sounds that happen when Tyler is getting sick.

We started getting John and Tyler cleaned up - I took James to bed... and then got Tyler to bed after we gave him a bath. John was cleaning up our bathroom, and took it a few steps further to clean the jacuzzi tub. He looked up a process online to clean the jets in the tub, and was in the final phase while I was cleaning the kitchen. Again, things seemed normal until I heard him calling for help... oiy.

One of the jets somehow started shooting water up on the wall of the bathroom - thus flooding the room and causing a big ordeal for us to clean up. Good times, I tell ya. My fajita dinner quickly became Chinese delivery with all of these shenanigans.

The fun only keeps going today... when I realize that all of the supplies for Tyler's 1st birthday party this weekend are sitting on my doorstep in HOUSTON! FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC! UGH! I've spent a good part of today freaking out about it, and coming up with a plan B... which thanks to some help from some fabulous people will work out fine... but seriously ya'll... what else is going to happen this week?

Oh yeah, and Tyler is getting a new tooth too... swell. Pray for us!

Whirlwind or Tidal Wave

I'm not sure whether I'm caught up in a whirlwind or a tidal wave these days - but man... the last couple of weeks have been brutal! For labor day, we took our first road trip with both of the boys. To say that we're not good travelers might be an understatement.

We drove the first day in the afternoon/night - which we thought might be a good plan because the boys might sleep. Notsomuch. James is not a good car sleeper - and Tyler even had some difficulty which I found amazing. He's always been such a good sleeper in the car, but then again we've never been in it that long before.

We had a good few days away, but along the way we caught some sort of stomach bug (James) and a cold (Tyler) - well... the cold eventually made its way to all of us. We're still trying to get rid of it! So there we were, having to drive back home with a terrible diaper rash and a cold.

To say that it took us quite a bit more time to get home - would be generous. We had to do 5 poopy diaper changes for each of the boys... 3 wardrobe changes for James, and two meals. It was brutal. The drive back though we started in the morning and finished by bedtime - so it did go better. They got frustrated with all the getting out and back in the carseats, but overall - I'd say that the traveling went a bit better.

When we got home though, Tyler had a projectile vomiting experience - so we had to deal with that along with unloading the car and getting James to bed. We finally got everyone down, and that was the end of it. Craziness!

I took the boys to the pediatrician after we got home, and that was another crazy ordeal - we waited 2 hours to see her. Which I think is totally ridiculous. I mean if they were 7 years old it would still be rude and unprofessional... but with babies - it's downright wrong! We finally saw her, and got a prescription... only to get to the pharmacy and find out that they didn't have the medicine in stock. Nice, right?

I left the pharmacy at about 1:30 with two babies who hadn't had lunch or a nap...and desperately needed both. We left with the understanding that they'd call the doctor and get a substitute prescription and I was going to have John pick it up on his way home. That didn't happen - because the doctor never would call the pharmacy back - even after I called and got a little rowdy with the nurse. It wasn't until 8PM that we finally got through after two calls to the after hours answering service...

So here we are almost a week later, and I'm starting to see signs of things getting better on the cold front.

In other news though, James might just be breaking into the terrible 2s - already. He is climbing on everything, and has recently stopped understanding what the word NO means. He pushes Tyler down... and is just generally defiant. On top of that, he has stopped eating. I mean, boy won't chew. He just spits out anything with any substance. So I've been forced into feeding him baby food again... just to get something into him.

Help me!!! Serenity Now! All of this... and Tyler is turning 1 in like 2 weeks!

Blog Bible Study - Chapter 1

A group of ladies from around the interwebs are joining together to do a Bible Study from home - we chose the book Sacred Marriage to be our study. We've only read chapter 1 and I already feel like I've learned some things about myself and about marriage.

The first chapter talks about how we are each sinners and selfish in our own right - and the idea of romantic love being the ideal for marriage is an unrealistic ideal to set for ourselves. Marriage is meant to be for the glory of God ultimately, and a way for God to teach us some of the characteristics that we need in order to live our lives more like Jesus.

A professor in a marriage and family class I took in college once told us that marriage has good years and bad years - ebbs and flows. I never truly understood that until I was myself in a marriage. There certainly are good times and not so good times... times when you feel romantically connected, and times that you don't. The one truest thing though is that God has provided you a partner to share your life with - share the journey... share the ups and downs... and learn so much about Christan life through the daily struggles.

I said earlier that we are all selfish and sinners by design... which can cause friction in a marriage - we are also designed very differently. Men and women process things in ways that seem completely foreign to each other. I've noticed this at different times in my own marriage - neither way of processing is wrong - just very different from each other. I'm more of a sit down and process it on paper type of person while John is more of a talk it out in the moment type of personality. At times this is frustrating for us, but eventually we come together and work it out.

One thing that we both realize is that the way the media portrays marriage and relationships is vastly different from reality. I think this starts with fairy tales as young girls... we are taught to think that our prince charming will come along and make everything alright. To a degree, he does if you follow God's plan for your life... but no one person can fulfill your every desire in life - only God can do that. Humans are flawed and will let you down from time to time. They don't mean to - and have the best of intentions, but no one is perfect and at times this leads to hurt feelings and let down. God is the only one that will never let you down... He might not always be on the same time table as you are, but he will never let you down or leave your side.

Somewhere along the way, people have come to think that if the romance dies down a bit - you can cut and run from the relationship. It is up to US, our generation of Christians to teach the world that this isn't the true way that God designed marriage. He designed us to be together with one person during our lives on this Earth. It is yet another test of our character as to how we deal with it for his glory and his kingdom. It is designed to help us in our journey to live with the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. If those traits don't define the tests of marriage - I don't know what else would. 


I grew up as the child of a divorce, a not so pretty one... and I always knew that when I got married - it would be with the plan that it was a once in a lifetime commitment. One and done. I married a man who grew up in a family with all of his relatives having the life long marriages that I desired for myself. His parents have been married for almost 51 years. That is the legacy I want for my life - for my children and grandchildren... I want them to look at John and I 30-40 years in the future and see the love and admiration we have for each other. Not because it has all been a fairy tale, but because we withstood all the tests and lived the journey together.

J is for John and James

I know, it's two for one... but how could I choose just one of them to write about on this letter? Not possible... two out of the three loves of my life - gotta combine them.

Let me start with my partner in crime, and the most amazing guy I've ever known. John...

This picture was taken for our adoption profile, and it seems like 100 years ago at this point. But it's about the most recent photo I have without babies included, so I thought it would be a good one to use. John is an incredible husband, friend, father, provider, and man. He is the absolute perfect man for me - God brought us together with a purpose and I'm grateful that he did. John challenges me at times, comforts me, helps me, and makes me laugh too. He is an incredible father - who loves these boys fiercely. In addition, he is absolutely brilliant - if there is something he doesn't know how to do - he will find out and work at it until it's mastered. Aggie Football is a passion of his, and well... really football in general - because ALL games relate back to A&M in some way... high school games are future players and NFL games are former players - so there is interest in all levels. Gift giving is another thing he excels at - the most thoughtful and interesting gifts come from his imagination. He once gave me the 12 months of Christmas which was a gift I opened every month for a year with different things for us to do together... another incredible gift came the Christmas after my weight loss surgery - he gave me my first scrapbooking supplies and had our close friends and family write me letters of support for my journey. Lastly, my man can cook... and I mean he can make a gourmet dinner like no one else can when he has the time to put into it. We've had some incredible special occasion meals over the years. Our 10th anniversary is coming up in February and I can only imagine what the next 10 years will bring... but I know that they will be exciting and we will be there with each other loving every minute of it.

True story, the other night we were watching a DVRed episode of Rizzoli & Isles and someone in the show broke a window with their head. John looked at me and said "I don't know why anyone would want to do that... I mean if it was to protect you or the boys - yes, I'd do it... but not just for fun." Love that guy and his sweet protective heart.

James - oh what to say about this little man. He was the answer to a very long prayer 8 years in the making. I've loved him from the moment I saw him in the nursery at the hospital... he is a screamer though! HA! He makes sure that you know when he's not happy or satisfied in the moment. As he gets bigger - I see a curiosity in him that I find intriguing... I really love watching him figure things out - he'll just keep working at it until it makes sense to him. Sometimes though, he'll bring a toy to me that he knows how to work - just to be next to Mommy. Until this last week, he has been an adventurous eater - I suspect this week's illnesses are just working their way through and once he's 100% again - he'll be back to trying out all the things that Mommy and Daddy eat. Giving kisses is a fun new trick that he's learned - he'll walk up to one of us and lean in for kisses... most of the time his mouth is open, but it's just as sweet even if it's slobbery. He is ALL boy - that's for sure... and climbing is a new game for him - I'll frequently be found getting him off of the top of the toy box, fireplace hearth, or anywhere else he can get a little height. He's taken to climbing on and off the couch and his little chair in the living room - it's sort of cute when he takes his drink and sits in the chair to drink. His smile and little dimple on the one side just lights up my heart - you can't help but smile back and feel like the whole world is just fine again. It's an incredible privilege to be his Mommy and watch him grow up right before my eyes - which is happening WAY too fast.

Friday Favorites 4

I'm so sorry ya'll. I missed Thursday Things yesterday, and today - I'm not really going to be able to come up with much to say to introduce our Friday Favorite. We are dealing with epic cold bugs over here... I've got two sick  babies and a sick set of parents to go along with them. So bare with me, and enjoy reading up about this sweet blogger, and her life. I know you'll enjoy reading about her adventures as much as I do.



1) Tell us a little bit about yourself:

I’m a quirky 30 year-old who is still dreaming of what I want to do when I grow up. Until I figure it out, though, I’m putting my newly earned law degree to use. I am head over heels in love with my two kitty boys and proudly hang stockings embroidered with their names on the fireplace at Christmastime. I love to do the dishes and always have. I am not a sweets person but do have soft spot for cupcakes. I have no shame in admitting that I am obsessed with all things vampire and have declared Robert Pattinson to be my movie star husband. However, during football season, my wedded affection belongs to Green Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, known just as “the hubs.” 

2) Tell us your mission/goal for your blog:

The best thing about my blog is I have no expectations. I just to love to write and find it fascinating that I’ve been able to capture, in print, at least a part of my story. 

3) Tell us about your favorite post or your best inspiration:

I don’t know if I have a favorite post… but my best inspiration is definitely Hann. If you haven’t been around my part of bloggie world, you might not know what a “Hann” is- but she’s pretty much my twin separated at birth. Our paths crossed in law school and she’s been “my person” ever since. We also have an amazing group of friends and although we’re separated by miles now, they continue to be my inspiration… not just for the blog, but in life.

4) Tell us one thing you can’t live without: (this could be animal, vegetable, or mineral – it’s up to you)

Just one thing?!?! It’s a tie… Hann and Carl. Best friend/future real-life hubs. I need them both.

5) Your favorite book, and why:

Ummm… duh. The Twilight Series. Because I am a tween stuck in the body of a 30 year old clearly. And perhaps Harry Potter. I just started reading them (don’t judge- I’ve had a busy couple of years) and cannot get enough. Vamps and wizards. Perfection.

6) Your favorite movie, and why:

I won’t say Twilight series since I just said that for favorite book, but I do love them. It depends- during Christmas season, it’s Love Actually. I love everything about. I love Hugh Grant’s monologue in the beginning, I love the humor, I love the moment when Sam finally gets the girl and is on the top of the world… I love all the love in it. To me that’s the best and most magical part of the Christmas season- love actually is all around. So when it’s not Christmastime, I think I would have to say Sweet Home Alabama. I could (and do) watch it over and over and over again. I can’t even put my finger on what the draw is but I love it. Philadelphia is another all-time favorite. Think it might be why I thought I could become a lawyer and change the world.

7) Tell us something unique/funny/interesting about you:

I was adopted when I was 3 months old. I have a light brown birthmark near my ribs and when I was little and asked my mom why I had it, she told me someone spilled chocolate milk on me. Funny, cuz I’m allergic to chocolate. I don’t eat the ends of certain things and I prefer it if different foods didn’t touch on my plate. I love Starbucks coffee but only buy decaf. I will only use OPI nail polish and if I could afford it, I would get a pedicure every single week.

8) Tell us how we can find you to read for ourselves: (your blog address)

While We’re Waiting, http://ks-waiting.blogspot.com

 Want to be featured yourself? Copy these questions and email your answers to me at kbhawkins AT gmail DOT com - I'll let you know when your post will be featured. 

Tyler Photo Fun

It wouldn't be right if I didn't do the same photo montage for Tyler... so here is a wordless look at the first 11 months of my tiny man's life.

There he is... my goodness, I had such fun going through all their photos - I'd forgotten about some of those moments. They're growing up crazy fast!

I is for Infertility

One thing that I still would tell anyone that would ever ask me about my life story would be that I'm an infertility survivor. I don't think you ever walk away from it. It becomes a part of who you are - no matter what happens to complete your story.

You never forget the pain. You never forget the months of hope and then extreme let down. You never forget the feeling of being surrounded by people with children - only to have your arms be the empty ones at the end of the day. You never forget feeling that something is missing from your life. You never forget the treatments, doctors, nurses, and phone calls that you endure along the way.

For me, my fertility treatments were a joke. I spent so much time and money on the process - only to find out after months and months of trying that the doctor just plainly didn't know how to get my body to produce a mature egg for them to fertilize. I injected drugs into my hip nightly on at least 3 different cycles for a week or so - made myself completely nuts... and everyone around me nuts... all for nothing.

I'll never forget what that was like - the excitement of starting a new cycle... "this month" would be different. I'd finally get my positive... only to start injections, have ultrasounds... and in the middle of the stimulation portion of the cycle - I'd get the call. There was nothing growing into a follicle. We wouldn't make it to the next step... no IUI for us.

The problems that they were having with my body wouldn't even allow us to do an IVF cycle or anything else... because they couldn't get a single egg to mature into a follicle. There wasn't any amount of intervention that would help with that - unless we wanted to spend an undetermined amount of money just throwing more and more hormones into my body to see if it would respond. When a doctor puts it like that - you know there just isn't much more hope left.

When it came down to it - the doctor had one "hail mary" type of treatment to try in the end, but we ended  up canceling it. I remember starting that whole process - thinking - I don't know how I'd ever survive walking away from those treatments without a baby in my arms. In reality, that is just what I did. It wasn't working and for us - we couldn't put more money and resources into a "maybe".

For us, it was also a major time that God was working toward us going in a different direction - to complete our story in a much different way than we could EVER have imagined at that time. Ultimately, I have my miracles... and they are beautiful... in their own way, with their own stories about how they came to be part of our family... and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

But, I also wouldn't be truthful if I didn't acknowledge that all of those infertility treatments and years of waiting didn't shape me into the woman that I am today as well. My story has a happy ending - I truly pray that everyone has the same happy ending... but I don't get to make those choices or decisions about the future for all of the women out there. Just know that if my story can turn out like it did - yours can too. Just keep praying and trusting that somewhere out there - God is working to create the family that you are meant to have.

James Photo Fun

I thought it would be fun to look back at a few photos of James... it's crazy how fast they grow... so walk with me for a little bit and look at my little men.

 

That's my big boy... check back on Wed for Tyler's version. 

Friday Favorites 3

Here we are for week 3 and we've got one of the most entertaining women I know... KLaw!! aka Kristen. She is hilarious... I mean really - cracks me up all the time. I met Kristen through a blogging friend, Summer... and watched her go through some infertility issues - while I came in late on her journey... but I was there when she announced that she was expecting one of the cutest and most superfly little munchkins out there, Smith. He is in between my boys in age, but Kristen and I have shared a lot of this interesting journey through being a new mother together... and she also has an amazing stationary/invitation/print goods business that she runs as well. She has designed the 1st birthday party invites and thank yous for both of our boys. I'll let her tell you about it at the end... but it's really got a great message - she's running Little Laws Prints to put money into savings for Smith's college. So help a little guy get ready for some higher learning, yo.

1)      Tell us a little bit about yourself:

Oh hai. My name is Kristen. I am a mother, a wife, a full time employee, a blogger of all things Ryan Reynolds, a paper goods entrepreneur, a cat mother of two, a dog mother of one, a box-o-wine aficionado, and typically about two shakes from losing my shit on any given day.

2)      Tell us your mission/goal for your blog:

I think I started my blog for the same reason everyone else does. As an outlet. I had just lost a baby via miscarriage and had nowhere to bitch and complain about how unfair life is. It quickly turned into DIY projects, and celebrating all things Ryan Reynolds. I talked a lot about my struggle to get pregnant and now that our little (big) turtle is here, my one year old son Smith, it has turned into a diary of all things snarky about parenthood. Sometimes coupled with a few heartfelt posts about how awesome he is. I don’t really have a mission, per se, but apparently people think I’m pretty amusing because they stick around and continue to read. Shocking. Considering how much I talk about poop.

3)      Tell us about your favorite post or your best inspiration:

Favorite post? Anything about boxed wine, Miller Lite, and my baby.  Most of the time they all go hand-in-hand. You know, baby in one hand and a beer in the other. Isn’t that how all mothers roll? No? Well, it wouldn’t be the first Mom fail in my book.

4)      Tell us one thing you can’t live without: (this could be animal, vegetable, or mineral – it’s up to you)

If you couldn’t tell from every paragraph above, it would be beer. And wine. Oh, and Burts Bee’s chapstick because I have a ridiculous addiction to it. And not just any flavor of BB. Its got to be the original, all yellow tube. Stage 5 meltdowns if I can find any of my 4 tubes I have on me at any given time. One time I found one in my sons diaper. Yep, he shoved it in his pants. I broke that shit out, gave it a good once over and proceeded to lather it on. I have no shame.

5)      Your favorite book, and why:

Us Weekly. What mother of a one year old who has a blog, a full time job, and a full time celebrity gossip problem has time to read anything longer than a page at a time. Besides I just like to look at the pictures and compare my fat ass to those skinny Heidi Klum bitches.

6)      Your favorite movie, and why:

Of all time? Holy shit, that means I have to circumnavigate 22 32 years of movies to find my favorite. Well, if I must pick one, I’d go all romantical and say The Notebook. Not only because Ryan Gosseling is Ryan Reynolds level hotness in that movie, but because when you strip away all the snark and self pitty I spew forth, I am a sappy romantic at heart.  That and because I want RR to meet me on a dock and tell me “it was never over”. Le sigh.

7)      Tell us something unique/funny/interesting about you:

I honestly can’t tell you anything interesting. I still don’t even know why you’ve read this far down. There’s absolutely nothing exciting about me or my so called life (Jordan Catalano for.evah!).

8)      Tell us how we can find you to read for ourselves: (your blog address)

You can find me over at www.kristenlawlor.blogspot.com. Yeah, talk about creativity. Or… SHAMLESS PLUG ABOUT TO COME FORTH…. Find me and my print shop over at www.littlelawsprints.com. Word to Smith’s mom, which would be me. 

You want to get in on this action? Copy these questions, answer them and email them to me... at (KBHawkins00 AT gmail DOT com) 

Thursday Things - Reversed

I thought that for today - it would be really fun to do this backwards... I've been telling you things that I love for the last few weeks... and really - what I want to know are some of the things YOU can't live without. What are the top two or three things you're using right now.

It could be things for the kitchen, beauty products, books, kid items, housewares, general shopping... whatever you want to tell me about. I really want to know if there are some items out there that I need to snatch up quickly!

Is there something at the grocery store that is rockin your world? A book you can't put down? Something that is making you look and feel younger? Something your child can't live without? A candle or product for your house that you're loving right now? Accessories that we need to know about? (ahem... I can help out with your accessory needs) Is there something completely unrelated that you want to share with us?

Now is your chance! Tell us all about it!

While you're thinking about it, let me tell you about one thing...

It doesn't really help me just yet, but there is a website offering free education materials for download and print... so maybe your child or a child you know is struggling in a certain subject - you can print some supplemental materials to help them. Maybe you're a teacher needing some new fresh ideas. Maybe you're a homeschooling Mom who needs some new resources to help with a lesson. Whatever your needs - check out superteacherworksheets.com Please pass this on to anyone that might be able to benefit from this site. 

Also, ya'll... I am dying to try this - but can't bring myself to buy a whole half-gallon because girlfriend over here doesn't need that much of it! 

 

 Kentucky Pie Ice Cream

brown sugar ice cream with caramel sauce, chocolate chunks, toasted walnuts and pie crust pieces